Vintage Japanese Woodblock Print “Pine Tree in Shin Karasaki” by Tokuriki c. Presented is a beautiful Japanese woodblock print created in the 1930s by the renowned artist Tokuriki Tomikichiro. Collectors often recognize him for his refined pastel-colored landscape prints, but his lifelong commitment to sosaku hanga (creative prints) reveals a much deeper artistic legacy. Tomikichiro Tokuriki was born on March 22, 1902, in Kyoto, Japan. He first studied art under his grandfather before entering the Kyoto School of Arts and Crafts, where he completed two years of preparatory courses and four years of regular studies. He then attended the Kyoto College of Art for an additional three years, graduating in 1923. He lived and worked in Kyoto until his death in 1999. During his student years, Tokuriki became deeply interested in the sosaku hanga movement, which emphasized the artist’s direct involvement in designing, carving, and printing. Trained by a professional carver and a ukiyo-e printer, he mastered the entire printmaking process. This personal engagement embodied the core principles of creative printmaking. Tokuriki joined the Hanga Association, collaborating with leading figures such as Unichi Hiratsuka, Masao Maeda, Kihachiro Shimozawa, Hide Kawanishi, and Shiko Munakata. Through this network, he became one of the central Kyoto-based advocates of sosaku hanga. The print was made using the Japanese woodblock technique in the 1930s. It depicts the famous Shin Karasaki pine tree in front of Lake Biwa in the rain. This is a very old ancient pine tree that is over 1000 years old – it is also depicted on one of Utagawa Hiroshige’s prints from the 1850s. This pine tree was the subject of the poem by the famous Japanese poet Basho in 1684: The Karasaki pine tree is mistier than the cherry blossoms. I have provided the picture of the tree from a 1900 postcard. It was believed to be 1000 years old in Basho’s time. Note that the large horizontal branches of the tree are supported by multiple wooden pillars. AUTHOR: Tomikichiro Tokuriki TITLE: Pine tree in Shin Karasaki SERIES: “Omi Hakkei” (“Eight Views of Omi”). Paper METHOD OF PRINTING: Woodblock printing PRINTED: c. 1930s PRINT SIZE: 11.25″ X 10″ FRAME SIZE: 17.5″ X 13.5″ The condition is very good. Great detail and colors, very minor age-related toning. It is framed in a modern, good-quality wooden frame with non-reflective plastic glass. Please contact me if you want to arrange the sale without a frame. Auctiva offers Free Image Hosting and Editing. Track Page Views With.
